Are you tired of constantly forgetting your passwords and having to type them in every time you want to access your favorite websites and applications? Say hello to passkeys! Passkeys provide a more secure and convenient way to sign in. With passkeys, you can use Windows Hello to sign in with a PIN, facial recognition, or fingerprint, making the authentication process faster and more convenient than ever before. And if you're on the go, you can even use your phone or tablet to sign in by scanning a QR code or via Bluetooth!
Passkeys compared to passwords
Passkeys are the future of authentication, and for good reason! They're incredibly easy to use and intuitive, eliminating the need for complicated password creation processes and the hassle of remembering them. Plus, they're unique to each website or application, so you don't have to worry about someone using your passkey to access other services. And unlike passwords, passkeys are resistant to phishing attempts, making them a much more secure option. Best of all, you can use your passkey across all your devices, so you never have to worry about forgetting your password again!
Note: the website or application you're trying to sign into must support passkeys in order for them to work. The good news is that the industry is quickly adopting passkeys as an authentication mechanism, so more and more websites and applications are beginning to offer this feature.
Create a passkey
Follow these steps to create a passkey from a Windows device:
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Open a website or app that supports passkeys
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Create a passkey from your account settings
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Choose where to save the passkey. By default, Windows offers to save the passkey locally if you're using Windows Hello. If you select the option Use another device, you can choose to save the passkey in one of the following locations:
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This Windows device: the passkey is saved locally on your Windows device, and protected by Windows Hello (biometrics and PIN)
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iPhone, iPad or Android device: the passkey is saved on a phone or tablet, protected by the device's biometrics, if offered by the device. This option requires you to scan a QR code with your phone or tablet, which must be in proximity of the Windows device
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Linked device: the passkey is saved on a phone or tablet, protected by the device's biometrics, if offered by the device. This option requires the linked device to be in proximity of the Windows device, and it's only supported for Android devices
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Security key: the passkey is saved to a FIDO2 security key, protected by the key's unlock mechanism (for example, biometrics or PIN)
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Select Next and complete the process on the chosen device
Use a passkey
Follow these steps to use a passkey:
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Open a website or app that supports passkeys
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Select Sign in with a passkey, or a similar option
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If a passkey is stored locally and protected by Windows Hello, you're prompted to use Windows Hello to sign in. If you select the option Use another device, you can choose one of the following options:
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This Windows device: use this option to use a passkey that is stored locally on your Windows device, and protected by Windows Hello
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iPhone, iPad or Android device: use this option if you want to sign in with a passkey stored on a phone or tablet. This option requires you to scan a QR code with your phone or tablet, which must be in proximity of the Windows device
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Linked device: use this option if you want to sign in with a passkey stored on a device that is in proximity of the Windows device. This option is only supported for Android devices
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Security key: use this option if you want to sign in with a passkey stored on a FIDO2 security key
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Complete the passkey unlock process on the chosen device
Manage your passkeys
You can use the Settings app to view and manage passkeys saved for apps or websites. Select Start > Settings > Accounts > Passkeys or use the following shortcut:
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A list of saved passkeys is displayed and you can filter them by name
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To delete a passkey, select ... > Delete passkey next to the passkey name
Note: some passkeys for login.microsoft.com can't be deleted, as they're used with your Microsoft Account for signing in to the device and Microsoft services.
We want to hear from you!
If there's something you like, and especially if there's something you don't like, about passkeys you can submit feedback to Microsoft by opening the Feedback Hub and use the category Security and Privacy > Passkey , or use the following shortcut:
